The scent of burning wood and sacred herbs filled the night air as the pack and their allies gathered in solemn remembrance. The clearing was illuminated by the flickering glow of pyres, each flame stretching toward the heavens in a final farewell to the fallen.
The fae stood with their luminescent wings dimmed in reverence, the vampires cloaked in shadows, and the witches whispering incantations of peace and protection. Tonight, only grief, gratitude, and a sense of unity.
A hush fell over the crowd as each faction's leader stepped forward to speak. Ethan stood tall, his gaze scanning the gathered warriors. "We honor those who gave their lives so we could stand here today," he said. "We will not let their sacrifice be in vain."
His jaw clenched as waves of heat and cold pulsed through his veins. The whispers had started again- indistinct murmurs, scratching at the back of his mind. He forced himself to focus as Amdis stepped forward. "Our fallen will be remembered. And our alliances, forged in blood, must not be broken."
Queen Eliane lifted her hands, a soft golden glow emanating from her fingertips. Her voice wove through the silence, an incantation in the ancient tongue of the fae. The witches joined in with her. The words shimmered in the air, wrapping around the pyres like a silken thread, carrying the souls of the fallen into the Moon Goddess' embrace. A hush of reverence fell over the gathering, the flickering flames seeming to brighten for a moment before slowly dimming, as if accepting their passage.
The ceremony ended with a final rite- burials for those whose traditions called for it, pyres for others, and small, symbolic offerings left by the witches to guide the souls of the departed.
Then came the feast. Tables were set with food and drink, though the air still carried the weight of mourning. Some warriors celebrated survival, exchanging stories of valor, while others remained wary, old grudges simmering beneath the surface. Kasia moved through the gathering, engaging in quiet conversations with allies, but her attention never strayed far from Ethan.
He was troubled. She could see it in the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes unfocused for a fraction too long, his hand occasionally twitching as if shaking off an unseen presence. She wanted to go to him, but she felt conflicted.
"Are you not going to go to him?" Queen Eliane asked as she approached Kasia.
Kasia blanched before clearing her throat. "Am I that obvious?"
"The blind could see that you want to go be with him," Queen Eliane chuckled. "What are you waiting for?"
"He's talking with Amdis. I can wait," Kasia said. "How do you feel?"
"Are you asking me or Devanna?" Queen Eliane asked. "To answer your question, we're fine. I'm surprised you were able to keep your thoughts clear with her always there. This will take some time for me to get used to."
"I want to thank you for saving me," Kasia said.
Queen Eliane waved off her thanks. "Remember you should never thank the fae. I will let you off this time. Anyway, it was a favor for a favor. You do understand?"
"You'll want something from me in the future," Kasia suggested.
"Of course. A favor for a favor. That is how we'll keep our alliance, Alpha Luna," Queen Eliane agreed.
"Don't call me that," Kasia said.
"And why not?" Queen Eliane asked.
"Because…it's not right. I'm just me," Kasia replied.
"But that is what you are. You cannot escape your fate. It was fate that you encountered the Alpha King. Fate that you have bloomed into what you were meant to be. Embrace it," Queen Eliane stated. "Or not. Be miserable always full of regret. Your choice."
Kasia exhaled sharply, unwilling to give Eliane the satisfaction of a response. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Ethan again.
Queen Eliane tilted her head, studying her. "You still fight it, don't you?"
Kasia frowned. "Fight what?"
"The truth. The pull of the mate bond. He marked you to save you and inserted some of his Alpha aura into you," Queen Eliane answered. "I'm sure you feel it."
Kasia indeed did feel it. It gnawed on her resolve to not go to him and kiss him. She wasn't going to allow primal urges dictate who she was.
"I fight for my own choices," Kasia said. "Not some predetermined path someone else decided for me."
Eliane smirked. "You think you are resisting fate, but you are only delaying the inevitable. It's amusing, really."
Kasia crossed her arms. "I've never been one to be laughed at."
Eliane's laughter was light, almost musical. "Perhaps not, but you are certainly entertaining. I wonder, though… when the time comes, will you truly choose him?"
Kasia's throat tightened. "That's none of your concern."
"On the contrary, it is," Eliane said. "Our fates are now intertwined, whether you like it or not. And I would hate to see you waste what has been gifted to you."
Kasia clenched her jaw. "It doesn't feel like a gift. It feels like a responsibility I never agreed to."
"Makes sense. The Hunters are no longer a threat to you and your loved ones for now. I assume you thought you would have a reprieve," Queen Eliane stated and Kasia nodded. "Well, that is not the hand you were dealt. You will lead. You have no choice, but you're not denying this out of concern of inability."
"That is definitely a concern," Kasia argued.
Eliane leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "No, that is not it. You are afraid, afraid of the unknown. You are not back on unfamiliar ground. Fear clouds the view of all things beautiful. But you will see, in time."
Kasia snorted at Eliane's statement which caused Queen Eliane to laugh. "Either way, I am very amused."
"How about you focus on your own affairs?" Kasia suggested.
"And what does that mean?" Queen Eliane asked, tilting her head.
"You know what I mean. Lord Amdis. You've been avoiding him all night," Kasia answered.
"And I will keep ignoring him until I see fit to acknowledge his presence," Queen Eliane said.
"Don't punish him forever. What did you say, don't resist fate, it's inevitable," Kasia teased.
Queen Eliane stared at Kasia with a blank expression before laughing. "Touche. Good night, Luna."